Decorative buckle



Oct. 11, 1938. w. MYERS DECORATIVE BUCKLE Filed May 13, 1937 QMW- A; ATTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 11, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The invention relates to decorative buckles, and more particularly to a metal buckle which may be applied toshoes, handbags and various other types of feminine apparel or accessories.

Prior to my present invention, great difiiculty has been experienced in providing buckles of thetype to which the invention relates-which can be conveniently applied to variousarticles in a manner which will avoid accidental loosening of the buckle plate or its escape from the portion of the buckle by means of which it is attached to the article.

Ordinarily, as shown in Patent No.'l,'l38,605 to W. L. Myers and George D. Harrison, a spring clip is attached by sewing or by wire stitching to the article, the tonguesiof this clip having a'wide range as to form and co-operate with a strap spaced from the back of the plate, said clip and said strap being provided with co-operating nubs and recesses for preventing sliding movement of the plate in relation to the clip.

The applying of the clip shown in said Letters Patent to the shoe or other article involved a difiicult manufacturing process and precluded the use of a sewing machine for the purpose. Consequently, the stitching in difi'erent. articles was irregular in thickness, which condition interfered with a proper engagement of the rolls forming the jaws of theclip with, the back strap of the face plate. This, at times, resulted in an improper gripping of the plate strap by the roll jaws of the clip, so that. there was frequent displacement or loss of the decorative buckle plates. There was also likelihood of creepage of the buckle plate in relation to the jaws of a clip, resulting in a loss of adjustment of the buckle plate and at times in its escape from the clip.

With the above conditions in mind, I have provided a buckle structure in which the strap upon the plate of the buckle may be readily engaged with the roll jaws of a clip'securedto the article in a manner to not only firmly hold the plate in position upon the article, but to prevent any longitudinal shifting of the plate in relationto thejaws of the clip.

To secure the desired effect, the strap upon the buckle .plate is made of a width and a thickness to pass between oppositely disposed jaws -i1pon' possible slippage of the jaws in relation to' the strap.. I

I also provide a clip which is so constructed as to provide areas engageable with the presser foot of a sewing machine when attaching the clip to the article, thus permitting the use of such a machine in permanently securing the clip tothe article. Adjacent these areas the width of the clip is reduced, such reduced or neck portions being positioned beyond the points of engagement of the jaws with the strap, so that the stitching will not interfere with the engage- 1: By forming the clip in the manner above described-,'and by using a strap provided with abutments engaging the ends of the jaws of the clip,

. the number and arrangement of the jaws upon the clip; may be varied, although it'is essential thatat least two opposed jaws be employed in order to secure the desired gripping action thereof upon the strap of the plate. I

Withya buckle embodying the invention, the jaws of therclip so firmly engage the strap upon the decorative plate that this plate can be removed from the-article only by means of a tool, thus preventing accidental loss of the plate under allconditions of use as a result of the escape of the strap from the roll jaws; While the gripping action of the jaws is great, there is always possibility of displacement of the decorative plate by relative movement between the securing strap and the jaws ofthe clip, the abutments upon the strap being used'to prevent such relative movement which, even though it would not permita complete removal of the plate, might nevertheless result in a loss of adjustment of the latter which might be objectionable tothe user of the article.

By'afiording a strong gripping action of the jaws upon the strap of the plate, and by preventing a relative movement of these two parts, I am enabled to provide a buckle structure in which accidental shifting or escape of the plate relative to, or from the jaws is prevented.

- The invention consists primarily in a decorative buckle embodying therein a clip having oppositely disposed rolled spring jaws and provided with means whereby it may be attached to an article, and a decorative face plate having on the back thereof a strap spaced from said plate and of a width and thickness to pass between and tension said jaws, the portion of said strap presented toward said plate being of reduced Fig. 2 is a perspective view of oneform of the clip upon an enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the back of the buckle proper;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view upon the line 4-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of'Fig. 4;

'Fig. 6 is a rear view in perspectiveof the back of a plate showing a modified form of strap;

Fig- 7 is a perspective view of the back of a plate showing a still further modified form of strap;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the clip used with the plate shown in Fig. 7; and V Fig. 9 is a back View of the assembled buckle embodying the plate and clip shown in Figs. '7 and 8.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

While, in the accompanying drawing, the invention is illustrated as being applied to a decorative fitting for a shoe, it is obvious that the spring clip may be applied to. any other article of apparel or accessory by merely adapting the form of the decorative plate to the article to which it is to be applied. It is also obvious that the dimensions of the clip and of the decorative plate may be varied to adapt the buckle to the particular conditions of use for which it is intended.

' While the article ally designated in the trade as a buckle, it ordinarily is not used to secure dilferent objects together, the usual function of a buckle.

Thebuckle' of the application embodies therein a spring'metal clip consisting of a base l0 having one or more pairs of spring jaws formed by rolling lateral extensions upon the base, these jaws being indicated at H and I2. At the opposite ends of the base ID are enlarged ends 13 and I4 forming areas for the engagement of the pre'sserfootof a sewingmachine with the clip, these ends being connected with the base I0 by reduced portions or necks l5 and 16 about which the stitches used in securing the clip to an article pass. It will be noted that these necks l5 and I6 are positioned beyond the ends of the spring roll jaws II and I2 so as to be conveniently accessible'when sewing the clip tothe article to which it is to be attached.

While other means may be employed for securing the clip to an article, the use of a sewing machine is preferable since this operation is thus made simple and inexpensive and affords no hard projections from the back of the article to which the clip is attached. When the buckle is used upon shoes, this feature is particularly desirable, although for handbags and other accessories the use'of staples or eyelets would not be objectionable. V

, The reduced necks l5 and I6 afford means whereby a clip may be attached to an article in 7 herein referred to is genera manner to prevent slippage of the clip in relation to the article, since the securing means passing about said necks are positioned between the ends of the body l0 and the enlarged ends I 3 and I4. I

The decorative face plate H may take any desired form and have any desired artistic finish upon the front thereof. This plate is provided with a back strap Hi, the angularly bent ends IQ of which, as shown in Figs. 3,to 6, are welded, brazed or otherwise secured to the back of the plate. This back strap i3 is preferably formed of a fiat wire of approximately .060 of an inch in thickness, having the opposite edges thereof bevelled as shown at 29, the bevel extending from the edge at the outer face of the wire inwardly of the strap and towards the plate. The thicki ness of this strap is approximately one-half the inserting the strap between the jaws, these jaws must flex outwardly to a considerable extent. The width andthickness of the strap i8 limits refiexure of said loops so as to ensure a firm gripping of the side edges of the strap by the rolls forming the loops. The strap. I8 is spaced by its ends it! from the face plate a distance greater than the diameter of the rolled spring jaws co-operating therewith. Hence, the spring jaws are held under tension at all times, thus developing a gripping action sufficiently strong to eliminate all possibility of the strap l8 escaping from between the jaws of eachpair.

The plate It! and all parts appurtenant thereto including the jaws H and 12 are made of thin gauge spring metal, and the diameter of each loop is approximately twice the thickness of the stock in the strap l8.

The bent ends IQ of the strap l8 are of a length to space the portion of said strap engageable'by the spring jaws well away from the back of the plate, so that no restraint is placed by engagement of any part ofthe jaws therewith which would prevent the movement of the jaws in developing the gripping action above re.- ferred to.

ing the strap ,IB, this strap may be positioned between opposed jaws H and I2 by inserting one edge of the strap close to the body IQ of the clip and below the portion of one of the loops I! or 12 of each pair converging outwardly towards the base It], and then by a lateral rolling action, forcing'the other edgev of the strap past ly from the jaws.

The engagement of the rounded'surface of the jaw with the edge of the strap develops a strong 'camming action when pressing one sideof the strap toward the jaws, both jaws thus yielding to permit the passage of the strap therebetween. Instantly that the edge of the strap passes the horizontal diameter of the jaw l2,.this jaw flexes inwardly of the strap and engages the bevelled portion thereof, the other jaw having a similar action so as to firmly grip the edges of the strap at the horizontal diameter of each jaw. V

By bevelling the edges'of the fiat wire strap;

1 By bevelling the edges of the flat wire formthe resistance to the turning movement of the strap is largely from the roll jaw l2, although there will be some though much less resistance from the roll jaw H, which, however, will be below the horizontal diameter of this roll. With this action, the thrust upon one of the jaws, as l l,is upwardly and outwardly, while the thrust upon the other jaw is downwardly and outwardly. Immediately, however, that the edge of the strap co-operating with the jaw l2 passes the horizontal diameter of this jaw, both jaws are permitted to reflex, and the portion of the jaw immediately below such horizontaldiameter and between it and the bottom of the roll, grips the edges of the strap. 1

By bevelling the edges of the strap in the manner described, a portion of each edge of the strap is positioned below the horizontal diameter of the jaws. These jaws, being curved, have only a lineal contact with the strap. The extreme edges of the strap,'however, positioned'as they are, make the removal of the strap from the jaws extremely difiicult because the excess width of the strap afforded by the bevel at either edge requires a greater flexure of oneof the jaws in removing the plate than would be required if the strap had straight edges and were of less width.

While the grip of the jaws on the edges of .the

strap is sufficiently strong to practically eliminate all possibility of the escape of the platefrom the clip, it is possible that the strap may have sliding movement longitudinally of the jaws, thus giving an irregular finish to the article to which the buckle isapplied. To avoid this l condition, I provide the strap l8 with an abutment or abutments engaging one or both ends of the roll jaw, so that any such sliding movement is prevented.

In the form of the invention shownin Figs. 1 to 5, this abutment is in the form of a small block 2| secured centrally of the length of the strap la,

the width of this block being substantially the same as the distance between thev ends of the jaws l I and I2 of the two sets of jaws; This block is positioned upon the face of the strap presented towards the plate l'l, so that as shown in Fig. 4, when the strap is engaged by the jaws, the-block will bear upon a substantial portion of the circumference of each jaw. There is a free sliding fit between the jaws and this block, but the presence of the jaws prevents movement of the strap and the plate I! carriedthereby in either direction. The downturned ends I9 of the strap'act as abutments opposed to the edges of the block 2 I, and if desired, these downturnedends may be relied upon as abutments supplementing the block 2! or acting independently of this block.

The length of the jaws H and I2 is such as to pass freely between the block 2| and the turned ends [9 of the strap, so that the block 2| alone or in conjunction with'the downturned ends will serve to accurately locate the'position of the plate' ll by means of the jaws H and I2.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6, astrap 22 is used having right angular ends 23 and provided with notches 24 and 25 cut in the opposite edges thereof, leaving a central portion 26 corresponding in function with the block 2|. The edges of the strap within the recesses 24 and 25 are perpendicular to the surface of the strap, and with this form of the invention, the jaws must be spaced closer together than in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

The advantages of the bevelled edges of the wire are not present with the use of a strap as shown ping action.

in Fig. 6, although a strong grip can be secured with this construction of strap,'and sliding of the strap in relation to the jaws is prevented.

In the forms of theinvention shown in Figs. 1

to 5 and 6, two sets of jaws are used, which gives in which a strap 21 is in arcuate form and has side recesses 28 and 29 substantially centrally of the length thereof forming opposed shoulders 30 and 3| engageable with the ends of a single pair of jaws 32 and 33 upon a spring clip, the construction of which in other respects is as shown in Fig. 2.

The jaws 32 and 33, as in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2, are in the form of rolls of a greater length, however, than as shown in Fig. 2, and positioned more closely together because of the reduced width of the strap due to the presence of the recesses 28 and 29. This embodiment of the invention is particularly adapted for use with plates H of smaller size than those used in the other forms of the invention, and permits the setting of opposite edges of the plate closer to the article towhich it is attached.

While the strap 21 is made of flat wire rectangular in cross section without bevelled edges, with the use of slightly longer jaws'a highly effective gripping action can be secured.

In all forms of the invention shown, the efiectiveness of the attachment means of the buckle plate to the article, results from the co-operation ofroll spring metal jaws of a clip so formed as to be capable of attachment to an article prior to the mounting of the platethereon, combined with a strap, the construction of which is such as to application of a plate to an article by means of the clipjthe jaws will be maintained under a sufficiently high tension to develop the desired grip- In conjunction with the foregoing, the plate or buckle 'strap is so formed as to afiord abutments with'which the ends of the jaws engage so as to prevent slippage of the plate in relation to the jaws and to an article to which the plate is'attached by means of the jaws.

It is not my-intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the accompanying drawing, it being obvious that such may be varied to adapt the invention to different sizes and shapes of buckle plates and of different articles to which said buckle plates are to be applied.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is:

1. A decorative buckle embodying therein a clip having oppositely disposed rolled spring jaws and provided with means whereby it may be attached to an article, and a decorative face plate ill) .said' strap presented toward said plate being of reduced width as compared with the outwardly presented surface thereof.

2. A decorative buckle embodying therein a clip having oppositely disposed rolled spring jaws and provided with means whereby it may be attached to'an article, and a decorative face plate having on the back thereof a strap spaced from said plate andhaving a maximum width greater than the spacing of said jaws from each other, and a thickness of substantially one-half the diameter of the roll forming said jaws, the portion of said strap presented toward said plate being of reduced width as compared with the outwardly presented surface thereof, whereby said jaws will be outwardly flexed when passing said strap be,- tween same. and the reflex action of said jaws will be limited by engagement with the edge of said strap so as to maintain said jaws under a constant tension.

3. A decorative buckle embodying therein a clip having oppositely disposed spring rolled jaws and providedwith means whereby it may be at tached to an article, and a decorative face plate having on theback thereof a strap spaced from said plate and having a maximum width greater than the spacing of said jaws from each other, and a thickness of substantially one-half the diameter of the roll forming said jaws, the portion of said strap presented toward said plate being of reduced width as compared with the outwardly presented surface thereof, whereby said jaws will be outwardly. flexed when passing said strap between same, and the reflex action of said. jaws will belimited by engagement with the edge of said strap so as to maintain said jaws under-a constant tension, said strap being provided with abutments engageable with an end of the'jaws to' preventrelative longitudinal movement of said strap and said jaws. I

4. A decorative buckle embodying therein a .clip having two pairs of oppositely disposed rolled spring jaws, the jaws of each pair being spaced from those of the other pair, and means whereby it may be attached to an article, and a decorative face plate having on the back thereof a strap, spaced from said plate and of a widthand thickness adjacent the opposite ends thereof to pass between and tension said jaws, the portion of said strap presented toward said plate being of reduced width as compared with the outwardly presented surface thereof, and a block secured thereto of a width to pass between and form abutments en ageableby the adjacent ends of each pair of said jaws, whereby relative longitudinal movement of said strap and said jaws is prevented.

5. A decorative buckle embodying therein a clip having two pairs of oppositely disposed rolled spring jaws, the jaws of'each pair being spaced frem those of the'other pair, and means whereby it may be attached to an article, and a decorative face plate having on the back'thereof a strap having its ends bent at substantially right angles and secured to said plate, said strap being spaced from said plate and of awidth and thickness adjacent the oppositeends thereof to pass between and tension'said jaws, the portion of said strap presented toward said plate being of reduced width as compared with the outwardly presented surface thereof, and a block secured thereto of a width to pass between and form abutments engageable by the adjacent ends of each pair of said jaws, whereby-relative longituinal movement of said strap and said jaws is prevented. P

6. A decorative buckle embodying therein. a clip composed of spring'metal having a body,

enlarged ends forming a contact area engageable by the presser foot of a sewing machine, a reduced neck between said ends and said body, and oppositely disposed rolled spring jaws, said necks being positioned beyond said spring jaws, and a decorative face plate having on the back thereof a strap spaced from said 'plate and of a width and thickness to pass between and tension said jaws, the portion of said strap presented toward said plate being of reduced'width as compared with the outwardly presented surface thereof, said strap being provided with abutmentsengageable with an end of the jaws to prevent relative longitudinal movement of said strap and said jaws.

' 7; A decorative buckle embodying therein a clip having two pairs of oppositely disposed rolled spring jaws and provided withmeans whereby it may be attached to an article, and'a decorative face plate having on the back thereof and spaced therefrom a strap of a width and thickness to pass between and tension said jaws, the portion of said strap presented. toward said plate being of re duced width as compared with the outwardly presented surface thereof, said strap having right angularly bentends secured to said face plate and having two notches upon opposite sides thereof leaving a central portionof a width to pass between and form abutments engageable by the adjacent ends of each pair of said jaws, whereby relative longitudinal movement of said strap and said jaws is prevented.

- '8. A decorative buckle embodying therein a clip having oppositely disposed. rolled spring jaws and provided with means whereby it may be attached to an article, and a decorative faceplate having secured thereto at the back thereof, an arcuate' strap having opposite side recesses subi stantially centrally of the length thereof spaced from said plate and forming opposed abutments engageable by the opposite ends of each jaw, the portion of said strap between said recesses being of reduced width as compared with the outwardly presented surface thereof, and being of a width 

